Saturday 13 October 2012

S3 Ep.21 Escape

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

ESCAPE
Originally Written by
The Rev.W.Awdry


Adapted for Television by
Britt Allcroft and David Mitton 


Air Date:
12/04/92


Plot:
Late one night, Douglas took a midnight goods trains to the other side of the island where only Diesels work. As he was about make for his return journey, he could hear an engine in desperate need. The engine's name was Oliver and he and his brake van Toad are running away from scrap, but they have run out of coal and have no more steam. Douglas gladly offered to help and as they were making Oliver look like he's ready for scrap, they set off towards the Island of Sodor. Daylight came when they've finished their journey and Douglas told the other engines about Oliver. The Fat Controller heard about too and is proud of Douglas to save another engine. Oliver was restored and repainted and so was his brake van in GWR colours and now works on Duck's branch line, which is now called 'The Little Western'. 


PRO:
- Another engine saving something from scrap, with a perfect moral about restoration.
- Oliver's theme music when he was being saved
- It almost stuck close with the story


CON:
- Shame that we never get to see Oliver's back story on his escape.
- Where are the auto-coaches?


This episode is just awesome! This is one of the fan's favourites that it went third on SiF 'Best of Thomas' poll last year and I can see why. It was filmed well, the music was just epic, brave and heroic, the story has a perfect moral about restoration, the same way that its shown in 'Saved From Scrap' and 'Percy and The Calliope' and the story almost stuck close with the original RWS story. But its a shame that we never got to see Oliver's backstory, like the one shown in 'Enterprising Engines', it will give kids the reason why he's escaping. But its also a shame that the auto-coaches were not in the series, they would be perfect and not just the two GWR tank engines running up and down the line with the express coaches. And also when the narrator said, 'Painted in full Great Western' colours, its NWR green. This GWR green:


But all in all, its a fantastic episode and I do enjoying watching it and it has to be the third season's highlight. 

Rating: 5/5